Guided Reading Lesson Plan (Levels M-Z)
Title: Johnny Appleseed Level: N
ISBN: 0-590-42616-8
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Johnny Appleseed: a tall tale retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg
Before Reading: (5-7 min.)
*Summarize plot (M)
*Unfamiliar book language/character names (S)
*Discuss pictures (M)
*Draw upon students’ experiences (M)
What do you already know about Johnny Appleseed? This story is going to give you true
information and it is going to tell you some of the exaggerated information, too. You will learn
about how Johnny traveled with his apple seeds and how people’s stories about him were
exaggerated. While you read pay attention to the true details and the exaggerated details.
Words/Text Layout:
*New or important words (V) boisterous & tranquil (5)
vast & Allegheny Mountains (6)
befriended (7) boasted (11)
incited (21) frolicking (28)
*Unusual aspect of text layout (V) 2 full pages of pictures: great illustrations
Suggested Teaching Point (Behaviors to Notice and Support) or focus on a Comprehension Strategy:
connections, questions, inferences, visualizing, summarizing, synthesizing, determining importance
Readers remember details throughout the story.
During Reading: (10-15 min.)
Students silently read the text. You may choose to listen to a few students whisper read the text, if reading
fluency is a concern. While students are silently reading, you can start another group or conference with
students who are independently reading.
After Reading: (8-10 min.)
*Discuss the story
-clarify confusion, revisiting parts of the text that posed problems for readers
-acknowledge partially correct responses, seeking to understand students’ perspectives
*Connect discussion to the teaching point and/or a comprehension strategy (see above)
Tell me about Johnny's childhood.
What made him want to leave home? Where did he travel?
How did he become known as Johnny Appleseed?
Find what you think is a truth about Johnny (share them).
Find what you think is an exaggeration (share them).
Writing Connection (optional): Use information from the story to make a T-chart. Compare what
you think are the truths and what you think are the exaggerations in this story.